Hose holding fixture

ABSTRACT

Hose holding fixtures for supporting all or part of a water or garden hose connected to a faucet. The fixtures are usually connected to the hose adjacent to the faucet and provide supports for releasably holding the free end of the hose and/or hose accessories such as nozzles or sprinklers. Some illustrated embodiments provide elongated strap portions which extend through a coiled hose and releasably hook over the faucet to support a coiled hose from the faucet.

This is a division, of application Ser. No. 07/264,372, filed Oct. 31,1988, Pat. No. 4,903,922 issued 2-1990.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to fixtures for supporting hose and thelike, and more particularly to a novel and improved holding fixtureparticularly suited for the support of all or part of a garden or waterhose.

PRIOR ART

It is known to provide hose caddies on which garden or water hoses canbe coiled and stored. However, such hose caddies are large andrelatively expensive.

U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,119,587 also describes a hose holding fixturewhich removably supports the end of the hose not connected to a faucet.Such fixture is relatively complex, being assembled of a number ofseparate elements. Consequently, its manufacturing costs are relativelyhigh.

U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,667,712 also describes a nozzle storage fixturewhich is mounted on a hose intermediate its ends and which provides athreaded projection for holding and storing a typical hose nozzle. Theabove-mentioned letters patent are incorporated herein by reference toillustrate two different prior art hose fixtures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a simple and versatile hose holdingfixture which can be produced economically and is easily used. Severalembodiments of this invention are illustrated herein.

All of the illustrated embodiments provide a hose holding fixture thatis connected to a hose while the hose remains connected to a faucet. Thefixtures are easily mounted on the hose and provide a releasable supportfor all or part of the hose.

In some illustrated embodiments, the hose holding fixture is mounted onthe hose and provides a support for the free end of the hose notconnected to the faucet or for a conventional hose nozzle. In suchembodiments, the fixture is normally mounted on the hose adjacent to theend connected to the faucet.

Although the water hose remains attached to the faucet, the faucet canstill be used as a faucet merely by turning on the water just as ifthere had been no connected hose. This makes it possible for the user toleave the water hose connected to the faucet after use thereof. Withsuch fixtures, the user does not have to stoop or bend to pick up a freeor nozzle end of the hose. Such fixtures eliminate any search for theend of the water hose. Without the fixture, the end of the hose isnormally in a tangle of hose and is often not easy to locate.

Further, the user does not have to reach into places where vision islimited by plants or shrubs or to search for the hose end when vision islimited at night.

With this fixture, the female connector which connects with the faucetand the free end or male connector are both supported and do not rest onthe ground where sand or dirt can collect in the threads or inside thehose. Since the ends of the hose are maintained free of contaminants, itis easier to connect the hose ends to the various accessories and dirtor other contaminants do not enter into the sprinkler outlet holes andcause plugging.

In some illustrated embodiments, provisions are made for supporting andholding other accessories, such as nozzles, sprinklers, or otherdevices. Since the fixture is mounted on the hose per se, and not on thefaucet, the water hose can be moved from one faucet to another withoutremoving the fixture. Further, the fixture can be easily moved along thelength of the hose when another location may be more convenient. Ininstances in which the user does not remove the nozzle from the hose,the fixture can support the nozzle end of the hose along with theattached nozzle.

In other embodiments, a hose holding fixture is provided whichreleasably supports an entire coiled hose. Such embodiments areconnected at one end to the hose adjacent to the faucet, and provide anelongated straplike extension having a hook at its free end. In use, thehose is coiled, the strap is positioned through the coil, and the hookedend is hooked onto the faucet. With such embodiments, the entire hose isneatly and easily stored in place at the faucet and is ready for usewithout reconnecting the hose to the faucet.

The various embodiments of this invention provide a generally planarbody which may be formed of molded plastic or other materials such asmetal and nonplastic, nonmetal materials. In some embodiments, the bodyprovides spaced mounting portions which at least encircle a portion ofthe hose at two spaced locations along the length of the hose. At leastone mounting portion is provided with a hook shape, so that the fixturecan be easily mounted on the hose at locations spaced from the end ofthe hose.

Most illustrated embodiments provide laterally extending supportportions which releasably connect and support the free end of the hoseand/or a hose accessory, such as a hose nozzle or sprinkler.

Preferably, each embodiment is a one-piece molded fixture formed ofstrong plastic material which is somewhat flexible. However, it iswithin the broader scope of this invention to provide fixtures formed ofmetal or other nonmetals or fixtures which can be fabricated fromseparate but connected parts.

These and other aspects of this invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and are more fully described in the followingspecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a hose holding fixture in accordance withthe first embodiment of this invention, installed on a hose connected toa faucet and supporting the free end of the hose;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the fixture of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the fixture illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 prior to installation on a hose;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the fixture illustrated in FIGS.1 through 3, taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3:

FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of this invention having a bodyor mounting portion similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 andproviding a modified support structure for the free end of the hose;

FIG. 6a is a front view of a third embodiment of this invention in whichtwo support portions are provided, one for supporting the free end ofthe hose and the other for supporting a hose accessory;

FIG. 6b is a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 6a;

FIG. 7 illustrates still another embodiment in which two supports areprovided on the front face of the mounting portion, one for supportingthe hose end and the other for supporting a separate hose accessory;

FIG. 8 illustrates still another embodiment which can be used to supporta coiled hose as well as the free end of the hose;

FIG. 8a is a fragmentary view taken along line 8a--8a of FIG. 8; FIG. 9illustrates the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 8a in its installed conditionin which it supports a coiled hose; FIG. 10 illustrates still anotherembodiment which is used to support a coiled hose; and FIG. 11illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 10 installed and supporting a coiledhose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate a first embodiment of a hose holdingfixture in accordance with the present invention. This embodiment isparticularly adapted to support the free end of a water or garden hosewhich remains attached to a faucet.

Referring to the drawings, the female end 10 of a water hose 11 isattached to a faucet or sill cock 12 typically provided on the exteriorof a building. A hose supporting fixture 13 is mounted on the hose,normally adjacent to the female end 10. However, the fixture can, ifdesired, be mounted in any location along the length of the hose. Thefixture 13 includes a mounting portion 14 which is normally formed ofuniform thickness and a laterally extending support loop 16 cooperatingwith the mounting portion 14 to define an opening 17.

The mounting portion 14 provides hose connecting portions at each endwhich connect with the hose at spaced locations. One connecting portion18 is provided with an opening 19 and the other connecting portion 21 isin the form of a hook extending to a free end 22 spaced from theadjacent edge 23 of the mounting portion 14 by a distance at leastsubstantially equal to the diameter of the hose 11. The hook-shapedconnecting portion 21, except for the open zone between the end 22 andthe adjacent edge 23, cooperates to define an opening 24 sized toreceive the hose 11 with clearance.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the mounting portion 14 isgenerally planar and flat in its unstressed condition. However, themounting portion of the fixture is formed of a material which issufficiently flexible to allow it to assume the position bestillustrated in FIG. 2 when installed on the hose 11. The installation isaccomplished by passing one or the other of the ends of the hose throughthe opening 19. Normally, if the fixture is to be mounted on the hosesubstantially adjacent to the female end 10 of the hose 11, such end isinserted through the opening 19 from the side of the mounting portionproviding the support loop 16. The fixture is then positioned along thelength of the hose where it is desired to mount the fixture, and thehose is bent forward and positioned within the hook-shaped connectingportion, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The mounting portion should besufficiently stiff so that the hose between the two connecting portions18 and 21 is bent or deflected from a straight condition, as bestillustrated in FIG. 2. In such position, the hook-shaped connectingportion 21 is also deflected substantially from its unstressed positionso that excessive bending of the hose does not occur.

By arranging the fixture so that the hose is bent to some extent betweenthe connecting portions 18 and 21 and so that the hook-shaped connectingportion 21 is deflected substantially from its unstressed condition, astructure is provided which secures the fixture in its mounted positionand the fixture does not tend to move along the length of the hose. Ifit is desired to change the position of the fixture, it is merelynecessary to release the hook-shaped connecting portion 21 and move thefixture to any other desired location along the length of the hose and,once properly located, to reconnect the hook-shaped connecting portionas illustrated. The opening 19 is sized to freely pass the female endconnector 10 so that such end can be freely passed through the opening19.

After the fixture is installed, the free or male end 26 can be insertedthrough the opening 17 provided by the support loop 16, as bestillustrated in FIG. 1. Preferably, the support loop is angulated withrespect to the portion of the hose on which the mounting portion isinstalled and is sized to receive the male end of the hose withsubstantial clearance. Therefore, the end can be easily passed throughthe opening 17. During insertion and/or removal of the male end of thehose through the opening 17, the male end is normally positionedsubstantially perpendicular to the support loop, as illustrated inphantom in FIG. 1, However, when it is released, it assumes asubstantially horizontal position perpendicular to the portion of thehose on which the mounting portion 14 is mounted.

Preferably, the fixture is molded as a one-piece element with the shapeillustrated, and is formed of a plastic moldable material such asvarious polymers and copolymers to minimize the cost of the manufacture.For example, the fixture may be molded from olefin polymers such aspolyethylene or polypropylene, or from vinyl polymers such as vinylacetate or vinyl chloride. Such material is noncorrosive, and thereforeunaffected by exposure to dampness and the like. It is, however, withinthe broader aspects of this invention to form the fixture 13 of othermaterials and to even assemble the fixture from a separate mountingportion 14 and support loop 16, which are connected with suitablefasteners or adhesive.

In use, the fixture supports the free end of the hose in a convenientposition, permitting the hose to be used as a faucet without beingdisconnected from the faucet 12. For example, the hose can be used tofill pails, sprinkling cans, and the like while the free end issupported in a convenient location adjacent to the faucet. Further, thefree end is held up off the ground and does not become contaminated withdirt, sand, or other debris, and can be conveniently reached even inconfined locations. Therefore, the user does not have to look for theend of the hose on the ground. Preferably, the size of the opening 17 isselected so that, if desired, a nozzle attached to the male end 26 ofthe hose can also be inserted through the opening 17 and supportedwithout removing the nozzle from the free end of the hose.

With this embodiment of the invention, a very simple, low-cost, durablefixture is provided which can be mounted anywhere along the length ofthe hose, and which provides a support for the free end of the hose.

FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of this invention which providesa mounting portion 14a substantially identical to the mounting portion14 of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4. Reference numeralsreferring to this embodiment include an (a). In this second embodiment,the support loop 16 is replaced by a pair of oppositely facing. spacedhook-shaped projections 27a and 28a. The fixture 13a of this embodimentis mounted on a hose in exactly the same manner as the fixture 13 of thefirst embodiment. When it is desired to support the free end of thehose, it is merely necessary to angle such free end so that it passesbetween the two hook-shaped support portions 27a and 28a, and then allowthe hose to rotate relative to the hook-shaped support portions 27a and28a until it assumes the position illustrated in phantom in FIG. 5, inwhich the hose end is firmly supported and held in position. One of thefeatures of this embodiment is that it is not necessary to pass the maleend of the hose through a closed opening and the fixture can beconveniently used to support the end of a hose even when a bulkysprinkler remains attached to the free end of the hose.

FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate a third embodiment of this invention. In thisembodiment, the mounting portion 14b of the fixture 13b is identical tothe embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 and is mounted in the same manner.Here again, the mounting portion provides a connecting portion 18bhaving an opening 19b therein sized to permit the insertion of the endof the hose. The mounting portion 21b is formed as a hook which isinstalled and removed on the hose in the same manner as the firstembodiment. Further, the embodiment of FIGS. 6a and 6b provides thesupport loop 16b similar to the support loop 16 of the first embodiment.Such support loop extends from the front face of the mounting body andmay be used to support the free end of the hose in the same mannerdiscussed above. In this embodiment, however, a second support loop 31bis provided on the back side of the mounting portion 14b, as bestillustrated in FIG. 6b, and may be used to support a nozzle or otherhose accessory.

When installed on a hose, the hose extends along the back side of themounting portion 14b from the opening 19b to the connecting portion 21b.Therefore, the support loop 31b extends from the rearward face of themounting portion at an offset location so that it does not provide anysignificant interference with the hose portion on which the fixture ismounted and which extends along the back side of the fixture between theopening 19b and the hook-shaped connecting portion 21b. The support loop31b may be used to receive and support a nozzle and the like which isnot mounted on the male end of the hose. Here again, the fixture 13b ispreferably molded from plastic similar to the plastic of the firstembodiment. However, within the broader aspects of this invention, thefixture 13b may be assembled from separate components secured togetherin a suitable manner.

FIG. 7 illustrates a fourth embodiment of this invention. Here again,the fixture 13c of the fourth embodiment is provided with a mountingportion 14c having an opening 19c at one end and a hook-shapedconnecting portion 21c at the other end. In this embodiment, however,the mounting portion 14c is somewhat longer than in the priorembodiments discussed, and the fixture provides two vertically spacedsupport loops 16c and 32c. In this embodiment, the male end of the hosecan be inserted through either one of the support loops 16c or 32c, andthe other support loop can be used to support any suitable hoseaccessory which the user wishes to store on the fixture.

In this embodiment, both of the support loops are on the front face ofthe mounting portion 14c so that the hose on which the fixture ismounted and which extends along the rearward face of the mountingportion between the two ends thereof does not interfere with the supportloops. Again, the fixture 13c can be molded as a unitary element from aplastic or other suitable material, or can be assembled from suitablyinterconnected elements.

It should be understood that it is within the broader aspects of thisinvention to provide any of these embodiments with two hook-shapedconnecting portions which connect with and grip the hose at spacedlocations. For example, the connecting portion 18 can be in the form ofa hook-shaped connecting portion similar to the connecting portion 21.In such instance, the fixture need not be initially installed by passingover one of the ends of the hose, but can be directly mounted at anylocation along the length of the hose.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate still another embodiment of this invention. Inthis embodiment, the fixture can be used to support the entire hose as acoil and also separately support the free end of the hose, as bestillustrated in FIG. 9. In this embodiment, one end of the fixture 13d isprovided with a mounting portion 14d similar to the first embodiment ofFIGS. 1 through 4. Here again, one connecting portion 18d is providedwith an opening 19d through which the hose extends, and the otherconnecting portion 21d is in the form of a hook. Mounted between the twoconnecting portions is a support loop 16d similar to the correspondingloop in the first embodiment.

In this fifth embodiment, however, the fixture is provided with anelongated strap extension 36d extending from the connecting portion 18dto a hook-shaped end 37d. Such hook-shaped end 37d is provided with agripping or finger opening 38d which permits the user to easily grip theend 37d.

In use, the mounting portion 14d is secured to the hose in the samemanner as in the first embodiment, as best illustrated in FIG. 9.Further, the male end 26d can be inserted through the support loop 16din a manner similar to the first embodiment. However, in thisembodiment, the hose can be coiled, as illustrated at 39d, andpositioned behind the portion of the hose on which the fixture ismounted. The strap extension 36d is then passed through the coil and thehooked end 37d is hooked over the faucet 12d to support the entire coil39d, as well as separately supporting the male end of the hose.

Preferably, the hooked end 37d is provided with a short, arcuate flange41d in the front face thereof adjacent to the hook. Such flangeautomatically functions to space the hooked end 37d out away from anyflange provided on the faucet or from the building, as the case may be,to space the gripping opening out where it can be easily grasped. Suchflange is best illustrated in FIG. 8a.

With this embodiment, the entire coil can be supported at the faucet andis held in a neat manner adjacent to the faucet. Further, with thisembodiment, the free end of the hose is supported in a generallyhorizontal direction, allowing the hose to be used without beingdisconnected by merely opening the faucet for flow.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show still another embodiment of this invention whichfunctions to support a coiled hose adjacent to the faucet. In thisembodiment, the fixture 46e provides a ring portion 47e at one end whichdefines a closed opening 48e sized to fit over either end of the hose11e, as illustrated in FIG. 11. From the ring portion, the fixtureprovides an elongated strap portion 49e extending to a hooked end 51e.Here again, a gripping opening 52e is provided at the end of the hookedportion to facilitate gripping of such end by the user. Also, an arcuatelateral flange 53e is provided to space the hook from the wall oradjacent flange portion on the faucet to facilitate easy gripping of theopening 52e.

In normal use, the female end 10e of the hose is passed through theopening 48e before the female end 10e is fastened to the faucet 12e.When it is desired to store the hose, the hose 11e is coiled and thehooked end is passed through the coil and hooked onto the faucet 12e tosupport the coil from the faucet.

Preferably, this embodiment, like the other embodiments, is formed as aunitary element of molded plastic. However, it is within the broaderscope of this invention to provide a metal ring or the like as aseparate element mounted on the end of the strap portion 49e to replacethe ring portion 47e.

In all of these embodiments of this invention, a simple, easilymanufactured fixture is provided which facilitates the storage of a hosewhich remains connected to a faucet. The fixtures can be manufactured atlow cost and can be distributed in simple, relatively small packages.Further, each of the fixtures can be easily installed and used tomaintain an orderly and neat hose arrangement.

Although the preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed, it should be understood that various modifications andrearrangements of the parts may be resorted to without departing fromthe scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination comprising a faucet, a hose havingtwo ends with one end connected to said faucet and having a plurality ofgenerally concentric coils intermediate said ends of said hose, a hoseholding fixture having a flat flexible elongated body providing a ringshaped hose receiving opening at one end and a hook at the other end,and an elongated neck therebetween, said hose receiving openingencircling said hose substantially adjacent to said one end of saidhose, said elongated neck extending through said plurality of coils,said hook at the other end of said elongated body releasably connectingto said faucet, said fixture depending from said faucet and supportingsaid coils from said faucet.
 2. A combination as set forth in claim 1wherein said fixture provides a gripping opening adjacent to said hookfor gripping by the user of said fixture when said hook is connected toand released from said faucet.
 3. A combination as set forth in claim 2,wherein said fixture provides a lateral projection adjacent to said hookspacing said gripping openings from adjacent surfaces when said hook isconnected to said faucet.
 4. A combination as set forth in claim 3,wherein said fixture provides a mounting portion providing said hosereceiving opening, and a support portion extending from said mountingportion supporting releasably the other of said ends of said hose.